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Well aimed training
By Cpl Corinne Boer
Edition 1171, July 26, 2007 |
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Cooperation in sight: Sgt Robert Fitzgerald instructs Leut Nicolou Sousa Guterres, Timor-Leste Navy, in handling the Steyr.
Photo by Gnr Shannon Joyce |
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SOLDIERS from Timor-Leste have had a taste of the Aussie bush and ration packs while under the guidance of Norforce’s indigenous soldiers.
A group of 10 soldiers from Timor-Leste have participated in an English language program and paraded at Norforce during their stay in Australia, where Norforce members worked with the soldiers to provide low-key military training.
The Regional Force Surveillance Unit has similar methods of operation to the tactics and skills utilised by the soldiers from Timor-Leste.
OC Norforce Capt John Killen said the soldiers had been involved in weapons familiarisation, patrolling, first aid and navigation.
“We ran a navigation exercise over a weekend and some of our indigenous soldiers assisted and provided local knowledge and their own knowledge of navigation,” he said.
“The indigenous soldiers ensured that the soldiers from Timor-Leste would not become disorientated and lost in the vastness of the NT bush.”
The Timor-Leste soldiers worked with four indigenous instructors from Norforce to gain a valuable insight to their knowledge of the area.
Capt Killen said they were thrilled to spend time in the Australian bush and eat the ration packs.
“They were so excited about our rations and took to them so well that they had consumed all the rations they were issued before the exercise ended and were looking for more,” he said.
The soldiers were attached to Norforce while they were studying the General Education English Language course at Charles Darwin University, from which all graduated.
English Language Program manager Capt Kylie France said the program had been building its capability for more than five years.
“The soldiers have achieved the highest level of English in the program due to the implementation of a formalised English language curriculum,” Capt France said.
The course was established by the Australian Defence Cooperation program in 2001 and has gained momentum since this date.
In the past, the program graduated between 10-20 students a year. On December 15, 2006, the school graduated more than 100 soldiers. |
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